sapijantan: January 2011

Christmas 2010 and the turn of the year the Global System was supposed to go into its second generation. Big surprise for Dave who didn't know that I was also visiting Rich in Australia. Never seen that thoughtful guy staring in such confused way when it was me who was the post-man for whom he opened the door while Rich pretended to smash the can and had already thrice flushed because I had problems opening the door. As Neuwied doesn't really count and only taken into conideration the guys only, it was the second meeting somewhere on the globe, and it was not only two but three of the guys this time. Insofar, we could speak of an evolutionary process. What we did could be very much described as simply hanging out. Thus, in a way, nothing special, yet, in the same way exactly what we were missing most. Insofar a holiday coudln't have become better. Days were spiked with shopping tours to Melbourne downtown, roadtrips to Phillip Island and a wildlife sanctuary in the countryside off the coast, sun worshipping in the botanic garden and, as always, supermarket explorations. We enjoyed NYE watching fireworks and people on Federation Square and out on the streets, with burgers from different joints. Rich came up with a phantastic chicken schnitzel for me on the first evening and made his best spaghetti for us on another day. He organized the most sophisticated recipes and ingredients from Queen Victoria Market and Dave prepared mediteranean breakfasts . Maria taught us how to speak OZ slang and we all had excellent discussions on life down under and above. Also I met back Adrian after years, and as always it was a nice chat. This time not in Hanoi but at a old-school Greek coffee shop out at Prahan on posh Chapel Street in South Yarra. Even though Rich, Dave and me shared the small apartment, it wasn't much of stress and maybe more relaxed than ever before. I feel that there is much mutual appreciation for what we are doing and going though in our modern careers and lifes around the globe and the way we are maintaining interconnectedness and share thoughts and ideas on all that. Our own global center is still the home town that connects us. Somehow that place has become less than ever before an option. Somehow I even look back with sadness for abandoning that small city which let us grew up. But it is not lost, and it produced the now. Almost three weeks ago I took the flight back to Ho Chi Minh City. A week ago it was Dave who was sitting in the plane on his way to Beijing for transit to Frankfurt after his delay upon departure from Melbourne. Mash who was in Vietnam and met me for a bizarre snake-dinner in town will be leaving back to Europe from her first ever on-her-own trip to Asia. Where are we all running? The future will show it. The next Global System will be, that is for sure. Location is not yet fixed. Might be in Europe. Decision will evolve. Three weeks form me, a week for Rich and Dave, the trip is just over for us, but it already feels like long ago. Pictures and memories remain in mind, like a dream, of better days, of no duties, no work, and pure relaxation instead, of inspiration and shared time, like the very luxury of our long, long youth.

Now a few pictures documenting this wonderful time together in Australia. Thank you guys!